Some news and notes from down on the farm.
AAA Louisville Bats
Matt Maloney’s second stint with the Reds organization was a short one. The Reds released Maloney after just two starts with the Bats in which he surrendered 25 H and 16 R over 6.2 IP. Jair Jurrjens faired much better in his first appearance with the Bats as he went 5 IP and gave up just 5 H and 1 BB with 8 K. Lee Hyde, 5.68 ERA, was demoted to AA to make room on the roster for the recently signed Carlos Marmol who has yet to appear for the Bats. RF Felix Perez now has his slash line up to .307/.364/.518/.881. The 29 year old OF from Cuba is now in his 3rd full season with the Bats and if he continues this pace, it will be his best season at AAA by far.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Rey Navarro is a 24 year old MI who has split time between SS and 2B this season for the Blue Wahoos. The Reds obtained the Puerto Rican IF over the winter and he’s spent all of the last two seasons at AA except for 70 PA at AAA in 2012. Last year he put up a .283/.310/.428/.738 in the AA Texas League and he currently has a .274/.336/.453/.789 line with Pensacola. May be a tough hill to climb for a AAA promotion with the glut of IF at Louisville.
High A Bakersfield Blaze
Bakersfield is only a about a dozen games short of the midway point in the season and 24 year old closer Carlos Gonzalez has yet to allow a run. Gonzalez has appeared in 22 G and has allowed just 14 H and 7 BB with 26 K over 26.1 IP. This is second year with the Blaze and his first in the closers role. He posted a 5.33 ERA last year with the Blaze and a 3.14 ERA the season before with the Dragons.
Low A Dayton Dragons
Phil Ervin has put up a .308/.364/.487/.851 line over his last 10 games. Hopefully this is the start of prolonged hot streak for the highly touted Reds prospect. His dismal start at low A Dayton has dimmed hopes of him mastering multiple levels this season. SS Carlton Daal .316/.360/.358/.718, SP Ismael Guillon 2.87 ERA, and SP Nick Travieso 3.17 ERA will be representing the Bats in the upcoming Midwest League All Star Game.